English
Leichenhaus
Leichenhaus comes from German Leichenhaus ‘morgue, mortuary’.
- Germanc. 1650–presentLeichenhaus‘morgue, mortuary’
- Englishearliest quotation 1894same form
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Germanc. 1650–presentLeichenhaus‘morgue, mortuary’
- Englishearliest quotation 1894same form
Earliest quotation: 1894, Thomas Bailey Aldrich, From Ponkapog to Pesth: “The Leichenhaus is comprised of three large chambers or…”
A compound of Leiche ‘corpse’ + -n- + Haus ‘house’
Proto-Indo-European *leyg- ‘to jump around, run around’
Proto-Germanic *līką ‘body’
Proto-West Germanic *līk ‘body’
Old High German līh ‘body’
Middle High German līche
German Leiche ‘corpse’
Proto-Indo-European *(s)kewH- ‘to cover, conceal, hide’
Proto-Germanic *hūsą ‘house’
Proto-West Germanic *hūs ‘house’
Old High German hūs ‘house’
Middle High German hūs ‘house’
German Haus ‘house’
Every English word from German Leichenhaus
Today it means
noun A heated space with an attendant, where dead bodies were kept until they showed signs of decomposition, ensuring that a live person would not be buried; a waiting mortuary.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / German Leichenhaus / Leichenhaus